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Centre likely to include Tulu in Eighth Schedule, says Moily

Making a point: Union Minister for Law and Justice M. Veerappa Moily speaking at the Vishwa Tulu Sammelan at Ujire in Dakshina Kannada on Sunday.

Govind D. Belgaumkar

Several resolutions adopted on the concluding day of the four-day convention

UJIRE (DAKSHINA KANNADA): The four-day Vishwa Tulu Sammelan has demanded that Tulu be included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, Netravati diversion scheme be dropped and a carrying capacity study be conducted before taking a final decision on the Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ).

The convention, which concluded here on Sunday, said Tulu was spoken by over 50 lakh people and it had a history of over 2,500 years. The convention demanded that Tulu be recognised as a medium of instruction and study material be prepared to ensure its implementation.

The convention urged the State Government to drop the proposed diversion of the Netravati. Describing that the scheme aimed at supplying drinking water to the parched regions of the State as unscientific, the convention said it would affect the ecosystem of the region.

The convention sought a study to assess the region’s capacity to withstand projects such as MSEZ and steps to ensure that agriculture was affected. It passed a resolution urging the people of the region to adopt pro-Tulu attitude.

The convention urged the Union Government to extend the facilities given to minority languages to Tulu also, create a railway division with Mangalore as its headquarters, and name the Mangalore airport as Tulunadu international airport.

The resolutions were adopted in the presence of Union Minister for Law M. Veerappa Moily, Home Minister V.S. Acharya and Dharmadhikari of Shrikshetra Dharmasthala D. Veerendra Heggade.

The other demands are boost to tourism in the region; rejuvenation of the sugar factory in Brahmavar; support price for paddy, arecanut, rubber and sugarcane; support to dairying and animal husbandry; improvement of roads in coastal districts on priority; special incentives to the fisheries sector; protection of the Western Ghats; a research centre for Tulu in Mangalore University; creation of Rangayana-like organisation for the development of Tulu theatre; celebration of Abbakka Utsava every year; broadcasting of Tulu programmes on All India Radio, Mangalore, and news in Tulu; and special grants for publication and sale of Tulu books. The second set of resolutions urged the Tuluvas to speak Tulu; follow rituals of the region and Tuluvite food system; raise awareness about Yakshagana and Bhootharadhane (spirit worship); play local sports, protect knowledge of folk medicine tradition and arts; and celebrate December as “Tulu month” every year.

Mr. Moily said the Centre was likely to concede the demand for inclusion of Tulu in the eighth schedule of the Constitution.

He was holding discussions with the authorities concerned on issues such as conducting UPSC examinations in Tulu, he added.

The resolutions were read out by the general secretary of the convention’s organising committee, M. Mohan Alva, and were adopted. Governor of Uttarkhand Margaret Alva honoured the achievers in various fields.